IRS changed refund

[jeannettebiddle3106]

Have done taxes with Turbo Tax for several years.  2024 taxes filed this year was supposed to get refund of $2011.  Received letter from IRS saying they changed the amount of taxable Social Security benefits on our tax return due to an error in the computation of the taxable amount.  They referenced publication 915, Social Security & Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits for more information.  We received a refund of $511.  Did Turbo Tax not compute this correctly?  I just used the amounts from the 1099's that I received...

[RobertB4444]

There are a lot of calculations that go into what portion of the social security benefits that you received are taxable.  If any portion of the 1099-R was taxable and was entered as non-taxable it would change that pretty dramatically.  

The IRS letter should explain the calculation used to change your return and what else was changed on your tax return.  You can check that against your tax return as filed and see if the changes are correct.

@jeannettebiddle3106 

[VolvoGirl · Accepted solution]

Is there an amount on 1040 line 6b or is it 0?

What usually happens is the IRS changed some other income on your return.  Like the taxable amount of a 1099R you got or you missed entering some income.  Like if a  1099R got entered on the wrong line 1040 line 4 or 5, the IRS would miss it and think you didn’t report it.

By increasing your other income it made more of your SS taxable.

Or There is a new question this year asking if you lived in a foreign place.  People have been answering it wrong or skipping it.  Go back through the Social Security entries.  

You can go back into your tax return but be very careful not to change anything.  Click on Add a State to let you back into your return.  You should see this screen after you enter your Social Security and hit Continue.  What is checked Yes or No?  

[jeannettebiddle3106]

OK, I put YES for my husband by mistake.  How do I correct it???

[jeannettebiddle3106]

I did have an incorrect answer when it asked if me or my husband lived outside the US.  I put NO for me but YES for my husband, which was incorrect.  How do I correct this?

[VolvoGirl]

Don’t think there is anything you can do.  The IRS fixed it for you.   Your refund should have been less.   

[SharonD007]

If you incorrectly answered the question that your husband lived outside of the U. S., you can correct your tax return by amending it.

Follow the instructions below to prepare your amendment using TurboTax Online:

1. Open TurboTax.
2. Scroll down to Your tax returns & documents and select 2024 for the year you want to amend.
3. Select Amend (change) return, then Amend using TurboTax Online.
4. On the screen OK, let's get a kickstart on your 2024 amended return, select the reason.
5. On the next screen, select Something Else and Continue.
6. On the screen Tell us which 2024 return(s) you want to amend, select 2024 Federal or State.
7. TurboTax will guide you through the screens to prepare your amendment.

For further information review the TurboTax articles: and Video: How to Amend Your Tax Return.

For more information and instructions, review the TurboTax articles  How to Correct Federal Tax Returns, How to File an Amended Tax Return with the IRS and  Video: How to Amend Your Tax Return.

@jeannettebiddle3106 

[jeannettebiddle3106]

I did make an error in answering that question.  Do I need to file an amended return thru Turbo Tax?

[CatinaT1]

It depends. If the IRS corrected it for you, you would not file an amendment.